OTHER TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Unlimited time can be enjoyed in Uganda’s game parks, but tourists have other wonderful options as well. A few follow below; please contact me (Samson@shalomtoursuganda.com or + 256.78.239.6397) about these and other options that might entice you:

Source of the Nile River: The enigmatic source of the Nile – the longest river in the world -- attracted explorers for centuries. On an 1858 expedition Briton John Hanning Speke speculated that a spring flowing northward directly out of Lake Victoria was the origin of this river that then flowed into Sudan and Egypt; his hypothesis was confirmed a decade later by Henry Morton Stanley. Located in the city of Jinja, the Nile’s source today lies beneath the Owen Falls Dam, Uganda’s main source of hydro-electric power. A visitor can still grasp the wonderment of this river surging forth out of the adjacent calm waters of the massive lake. If desired, I can also bring tourists white water rafting and game fishing down river.

The Ssese Archipelago: 84 islands of varying sizes are anchored in the giant Lake Victoria. Tourists seeking water-based activities and relaxation will love the Ssese Archipelago with its local fishing villages, lush forests, and birdwatching opportunities.

City Life:

Kampala: Formally built on seven hills but currently spread across ten hills, Kampala is the nation’s capital city as well as its governmental and commercial heart. Its name is derived from a kiganda expression "kasozi k'empala, meaning "the hill of antelopes". Kampala provides a special mix of modern urban life juxtaposed with the development struggles of a Third World country.

Entebbe: The first stop of most tourists to Uganda is the airport in Entebbe, a city inhabited by over 90,000 people. Located only 21 miles south of Kampala, many residents of Entebbe work in offices in the capital city while others make a living in agriculture and various industries. Entebbe sits alongside Lake Victoria, the second largest fresh water lake in Africa. Visitors to this city can stop in at the Ugandan Wildlife Education Center, the Botanical Gardens, and beaches along Lake Victoria.

Mbale: Mbale, in the foothills of Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda, has a population of over 50,000 people. Mbale is well-known as an arabica coffee-producing region (go to the “Delicious Peace” coffee page for more about this), surrounded by a picturesque landscape. Since my home is in Mbale, I am very familiar with all aspects of this small city.

Mbarara: Once the capital of the Ankole kingdom, Mbarara is rich in natural resources. Tourists to the game parks in the western mountains of Uganda often stop overnight in this city.